Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-10-05
PERCEPTION OF THE BLIND.
A Sort of "SiNth Sense" Resulting
from the Union of Hearing
and Touch.

The question is often asked: BI
what means does a person unable L
see lind his way from place TO place
| or know when TO turn a corner, o
even keep on the sidewalk, etc. Tha'
some such power IS possessed, to
| greater or less degree, by most DlinC
people, Is well known; but Just what i
Is or how far It may be carried, few
understand, aud even among thos,
| using il, to whom It Is "A matter o.
course, a simple everyday experience
few. II any, have succeeded IN analyz
ing It satisfactorily Though the faculty
Is as difficult TO explain clearly to those
not gifted with it as would be the per.
| ception OF the difference in colOrs or a:
/ sight itself to the blind. / will try te
| give some little idea of it for the bene
| ut OF those wishing to learn for them.
| selves or others.
| 1t does not consist, as is sometimes
| fancied, In the skhful use OF a cane o!
| the exact memory OF distances, though
these are minor aids. 1t results from
the union of hearing and the sense OF
touch, both trained to extraordinary
delicacy and habituated to unusual ser.
vices, coming TO form a sort of ''sIxth
| sense" as instructive, instantaneous
and Trustworthy i'll its activity as any
of the familia five. To illustrate: II
You walk rapidly along quiet street,
| listening carefully to your footsteps
| you will notice that the solid buildings
and walls close to the sidewalk give
back a distinct echo, which instantly
cease at the openings and crossings
| This TO the blind is equivalent to light
and shadow, and Is in its cIudest
| ginnings the first element in the - Xtt
sense" above mentioned, Again,
you walk slowly. in the dark, AZ
against a wall or closed door, you vii
feel Just, before striking it, upon the
| delicate nerves OF the exposed portion
/ of the face a slight sensation like
that which might be produced by au
infinitely fine and light gossamer veil.
1t is caused by the increased compres
| SION or resistance of the elastic all
wien forced up against one solid body
| by the approach of another.
Repeat the eXperiement, and you
| find that the same thing is noticeable
| at a greater distance than at frst. This
| Is the germ of the second element
already spoken of. These two percep-
| tions, blended into one consciousness
and trained to perfection by long year:
OF practice, enable one TO becon ne
aware at a considerable distance OF ans
obstacle in his path, to determine the
size and approximate shape of objects
he is passing, to tell the height of a
wall without touching it; In short. tC
take cogniZance of any and all land
marks necessary IN making his way oI
| finding a given locality.
I ThlR fannltV haSA1 nnNn Slmnle
though generally unfamiliar natural
laws, Is, IN some OF Its many forms Oi
| application, the source of most of the
seemingly remarkable feats performed
| by sightless persons In this connection
/ and II Is with them so abilually IL
use, 50 much a part of daily life. that
It's exercise is instructive and uncOn,
scious. and the blind scarcely rea'iZ
that others employ a different process;
70 arrive at the same results. 1t is sus
ceptible of almost immeasurablc de
yelopment. The writer has known {
number besides himself who could
count the shade trees when riding a
full gallop along the middle OF tht
street, tell the difference between Z
close or open fence, the distance o.
buildings from roadwsys. etc. Tht
position of corners, gateways and th'
Like are much more easily learned. In
walking everything Is OF course muct
nearer, and the difficulty is greatly di
minished. So every change In side
walk OF fence, every inequality be
meath the feet or smallest post by th'
wayside, b a guide. as definite snc
trustworthy as are buildings or sign
boards to him who sees.